Public Policies In India and their significance - Prelims General Studies

PUBLIC POLICY IN INDIA

Definition:

A Public Policy is a goal oriented course of action adopted and implemented by the government bodies and officials in pursuit of certain objectives or goals of public interest.

Basically, Public Policies are:

• Goal oriented
• Decision making process
• Government’s collective action
• Addresses public concerns
• Interaction of people’s demands with power structures

Importance of Public Policies:

Although the trend of privatization made the governments to relax from many areas of development still there are many important areas which needs to be focused for the sake of public interest and for social welfare and growth. Thus the study of Public Policy, also called ‘Planned view of development’, gains much more relevance.

The scientific analysis of public policy helps in understanding the causes and consequences of the policy thereby facilitating practical solutions to social problems.

A Policy which is formulated and is implemented in a participative, transparent, open and accountable manner is an effective public policy serving public interest.

Stages in Public Policy Process:

(i) Policy Formulation:

A policy will be formulated in a coherent fashion keeping in mind the needs, interests, and problems of the society. It covers the larger sections of the society too.

(ii) Policy Education:

Educating the masses and actual beneficiaries about the formulated policies and their impacts through media.

(iii) Policy Implementation:

This is a crucial stage which actually decides the translation of the policy goals into action. It is the task of the executive branch of the government to systematically act upon the policies with the available resources.

(iv) Policy Monitoring:

Monitoring is the task done after the implementation and performing auditing and reporting process.

(v) Policy Impact:

A quantitative and qualitative study needs to be done to know the impact of the policy.

Types of Public Policies:

1. Welfare & Development Public policies
2. Regulatory Public policies
3. Distributive & Re-distributive policies

Institutions that play a crucial role in policy making are:

• Legislature
• Executive
• Cabinet and Cabinet secretariat
• Prime Minister and Prime Minister’s Office
• NDC and Planning Commission
• IAS, IPS and IFS officers
• Judiciary.

Here is the List of the Major PUBLIC POLICIES undertaken by Government of India over the years:

1. National Policy for Farmers, 2007
2. Agriculture Pricing Policy
3. National Agriculture Development Programme or Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
4. Agriculture Policy: A Vision for 2020
5. Consolidated FDI Policy, 2010
6. National Employment Policy, 2008
7. National Manufacturing Policy, 2011
8. National Drug Policy
9. National Pharmaceutical Policy, 2002
10. National Broadband Policy, 2004
11. National Policy on Information Technology, 2011
12. National Policy on Electronics, 2011
13. National Policy on Education, 1968
14. National Policy on Education, 1986
15. National Programme of Action
16. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan- Education For All
17. Policy Statement on Environment and Development
18. National Skill Development Policy
19. National Nutrition Policy
20. National Health Policy of 2002
21. National Population Policy of 2000
22. National Mineral Policy
23. National Electricity Policy, 2003
24. Rural Electrification Policy
25. National Policy on Older Persons
26. National Policy for Empowerment of Women
27. National Telecom Policy, 2011
28. National Water Policy, 2002
29. National Urban Sanitation Policy
30. National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy
31. National Tourism Policy, 2002.